Tags
community, compassion, courage, Diana Schwenk, Hump Day Chronicles, Southern Alberta Floods 2013, survivor's guilt, The National, The Ship and Anchor
I’ve been lucky.
I have power.
My community was not affected by the flood.
If you were here looking out my window, you would see green luscious grass and trees heavy with leaves – so much more greenery than I’ve ever seen in our typically dry climate.
You would see the guy across the street mowing the lawn.
If you were here and didn’t turn on the TV or check social media, you wouldn’t have a clue that anything happened at all.
It’s sunny. It’s warm and summery.
You would never guess that just blocks away, homes have no power. Entire basements and parking garages were flooded and family treasures have been destroyed.
As in tune as I’ve been on social media and images on the news, I’m always too late to help. A call for volunteers goes out and a group of hundreds, if not more answer the call to the point of volunteers having to be turned away.
I have offered my place. I have offered food. I have offered a shower. But always someone has offered a moment sooner.
A woman I know chose to hunker down with her cat in spite of the fact that she has no power, yet the waters did not affect her – her place is dry. Her office in Calgary’s Kensington district was ravaged by waters, and tenants in that building met the same fate. She took in one of the tenants who has lost everything except for the clothes on her back.
Most people have been allowed back to their homes to assess the damage. So my friend and I set out on foot to see where we could help. It was time to stop waiting to jump upon an organized effort and just do something.
There were many who already had friends and family helping. We were, however, able to help a few.
I never knew how crumbly drywall becomes when it’s wet, how easily it falls apart. We loaded the remnants of basement walls into a dumpster. On the lawn outside, the homeowner laid family photos out on a blanket to dry.
An English teacher across the street was helped by some homeless guys and she paid them for their efforts. (How kind of her) We volunteered our help and she assigned us to the dark basement with a small flashlight and a metal bucket to clear out the storage under the stairs. A couple of inches of water remained and she gave us each a pair of Crocs to wear for our work.
A wool blanket, a comforter, shoes, Christmas decorations, purses and other such items, mostly destroyed and dragged to the curb for the City of Calgary workers to pick up.
When interviewed by a reporter she said, “you know, it’s just stuff, it’s the people who matter.”
When we left she gave us this cart-like thing on wheels, saying it might be useful to us to haul stuff out for the next house we came upon.
We came upon a man who wanted to push his friend’s car out of the way. It was a standard and I felt like a real he-woman/hero for being the only one there who knew how to put it in neutral!
The streets and curbs were filled with damaged treasures wherever we went. Many people were sifting through piles of items to separate the salvageable from the now-garbage.
I wanted to take pictures to document this day, but somehow I couldn’t bring myself to it. It just felt too intrusive to do so.
At the end of the day we were covered in mud and feeling pretty darn good that we were able to help some neighbours clean up.
~
People all over the city are responding.
Just in my neighbourhood, The Ship and Anchor and its neighbour The National both hosted barbecues for evacuees.
My neighbour hosted a concert to raise funds for flood victims. Sled Island was canceled but it’s rumoured that some showed up at my neighbour’s place to play!
And two young ladies set up an Italian Soda stand. All their proceeds going to support victims of the floods.
Although I have no photos of the clean up, I do have some you may be interested in below.
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
Wyrd Smythe said:
D’oh!! If I ever needed a good mud-wrestling joke, a post with this title would be the perfect place!!
All seriousness aside, wet drywall (a contradiction in terms!) is really something, isn’t it. Heavy and crumbly!
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes it is! I had to cut my fingernails – it gets all stuck in there and has the same eerie fingernails scratching a blackboard ickiness feeling to me!
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terrytrekker said:
Wow, glad you are ok! I was away on vacation and not able to follow blogs. Keep safe and continue your good deeds!
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dianasschwenk said:
I hope you had a wonderful vacation!
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elizabeth2560 said:
I am glad that things are slowly picking up and that you remain safe.
Keep well 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Elizabeth!
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RoxyUncut said:
The purpose of life is to help others and if you cannot help them would you at least not hurt them. Dalai Lama to Leonardo Buscaglia. I am sure you never looked more beautiful Diana than when you were covered in mud!!
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dianasschwenk said:
haha well mud does cover a multitude of blemishes!
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this is lemonade said:
Lovely post Diana. Can’t imagine you being one for sitting around waiting for someone to ask for help. I also learned another Canadian term today – we drive manual (standard) over here 🙂 What’s automatic in Canada? Take care! Keep up the good work xx
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dianasschwenk said:
I may have used the wrong terminology. For me a standard is a manual transmission. 5 gears, a clutch and a partridge in a pear tree. An automatic has an automatic transmission. My car has drive, park, reverse, low D1 D2, reverse, no clutch…
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this is lemonade said:
Nope, I think we’re still on the same page. We call automatics automatics too. Our standards do not have partridges in pear trees though, that’s a pity…so your car counts as an automatic?
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dianasschwenk said:
yes my personal car. I prefer standards but live in the city. lots of stops and gos and little hills and when a clutch goes, it’s a hefty cost so I chose an automatic.
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Sheryl said:
It can feel good to help. Your comment reminded me of a time years ago when I helped the owner of a children’s clothing store clean up after a flood. I remember spending an entire afternoon trying to wash sticky mud off shelves. I felt like I made very little progress, but the owner was very appreciative of my efforts.
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dianasschwenk said:
I bet he was! On the news today a volunteer called it Helper’s High.
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joannerambling said:
I am glad you are safe and didn’t get affected by the flooding…………
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Joanne!
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When in New Places said:
This post was so heartwarming. It’s great to hear how in these trying moments people will come together to help and care and be there for one another. We lived in Calgary for many years before moving to Korea, and this was a terrible event to watch from so far away. Your post makes me feel so much better.
Thank you!
~Andrea
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dianasschwenk said:
Andrea, thanks for checking in with your old neighbours. Calgarians are amazing me with their kindness and hard work. I’m so proud to be a Calgarian!
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When in New Places said:
Ah ~ that makes me tear up and smile. I don’t think I’ve missed it as much as I do now. Calgary is a very special place to us and always will be; the people, spirit and tenacity (like you just showed) shine through in everything. Take good care. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Andrea, you take care too and don’t be shy – come back and visit some time!
xo
Diana
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When in New Places said:
Definitely 🙂
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stuffitellmysister said:
Bless you for helping and so glad you are safe! ♥
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you my dear. The devastation was overwhelming but I think the response – the sheer number of people helping is even more overwhelming – in a good way!
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stuffitellmysister said:
I totally get it. It has been a month since my folks were in the tornado in Moore….people are STILL helping them and stopping when they see them out working to give them lunch and water. I stand amazed.
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dianasschwenk said:
I love that. People are awesome!
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cyclingrandma said:
Glad the waters have receded and the city begins clean up and recovery. It takes time— keep faith!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Lisa!
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russtowne said:
Thank you for sharing so much about what is going one and the role you are playing to help, Diana. Well done! I’m glad your community is coming together to help each other.
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dianasschwenk said:
It’s amazing to be part of humanity at its best!
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Healthy A-Z said:
The responses are heartwarming! The photo of the needs made me laugh! A sense of humor in the middle of it all.
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dianasschwenk said:
wine and a cute fireman – who needs electricity?!! haha
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Jennifer's Journal said:
Way to go, Diana. Looks like your community is handling things famously. And kudos to you for knowing about putting the car in neutral. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
I have to thank one of my first boyfriends for that! He figured I should know how to drive a standard, fix the linkage on our 63′ 3 on the tree Chevy Pick Up and change a tire and pushed me relentlessly to learn!
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Our Life In 3D said:
I cansee you in the front, wearing your super hero cape and directing traffic of where to go for specific help. Nice pics!
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dianasschwenk said:
Haha! Well nothing quite that dramatic…although I’m probably bossy enough for that job! Thanks for your encouragement!
xo
Diana
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bulldog said:
The tragic feeling of a flood is always helped when aid comes… and you are just one of those angels…
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Bulldog…so many are helping…anyone would do it.
xo
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Louise Gallagher said:
You warm my heart.
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dianasschwenk said:
The feeling is mutual!
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billgncs said:
glad you’re safe and sound! Looks like plenty of volunteer opps coming up!
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dianasschwenk said:
It’s amazing how people want to and are helping!
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billgncs said:
this your chance to get your hands dirty 🙂
do you have a pickup truck? then you would certainly have lots of friends 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
No, I don’t but the City of Calgary is picking stuff up. They’ve so amazing! Kudos to Military, Police, City workers!
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